Espinaze Marcela P A, Hui Cang, Waller Lauren, Matthee Sonja
Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriScience, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Parasitol Res. 2020 Nov;119(11):3603-3616. doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06895-x. Epub 2020 Sep 30.
Nest design and characteristics can influence the microclimatic conditions in the nest. Nest-dwelling ectoparasites are sensitive to temperature and moisture and as such the conditions in the nest can influence parasite infestations. The endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) breeds in different nest types and as yet little is known with regard to the microclimate and parasite infestation within these nests. This study characterized the microclimatic conditions in natural open, natural covered (with vegetation) and artificial nests, and assessed the relationship between nest characteristics (type, age, distance from the coast, orientation and entrance opening) and in-nest ectoparasite infestations and the health of African penguins in Stony Point, South Africa. Penguins (50 adults and 192 chicks) and their nests (n = 308) were sampled in 2016 and 2017. Soil temperature was higher in artificial than in natural nests, and soil and nest material moisture was lower in artificial and natural covered nests than natural open. Ectoparasite infestations were higher under warmer and drier conditions, in artificial nests and nests near the coastline. Penguin (adult and chick) body mass and chick body condition were lower in warmer nests and total plasma protein (in adults and checks) was lower in drier nests. Given the potential adverse effects of ectoparasites on host species, it is recommended that conservation agencies implement a monitoring programme to assess the ectoparasite infestation in artificial nests across multiple colonies. This information will facilitate a more holistic penguin conservation management plan that may prevent further detrimental effects on this endangered penguin species.
巢穴的设计和特征会影响巢穴内的微气候条件。巢居外寄生虫对温度和湿度敏感，因此巢穴内的条件会影响寄生虫感染情况。濒危的非洲企鹅（斑嘴环企鹅）在不同类型的巢穴中繁殖，目前对于这些巢穴内的微气候和寄生虫感染情况知之甚少。本研究描述了自然露天巢穴、自然有植被覆盖的巢穴和人工巢穴中的微气候条件，并评估了巢穴特征（类型、年龄、离海岸的距离、朝向和入口开口）与巢内寄生虫感染以及南非石点地区非洲企鹅健康状况之间的关系。在2016年和2017年对企鹅（50只成年企鹅和192只雏鸟）及其巢穴（n = 308个）进行了采样。人工巢穴中的土壤温度高于自然巢穴，人工巢穴和自然有植被覆盖的巢穴中的土壤和巢材湿度低于自然露天巢穴。在温暖干燥的条件下、人工巢穴以及靠近海岸线的巢穴中，外寄生虫感染情况更为严重。在较温暖的巢穴中，企鹅（成年和雏鸟）的体重以及雏鸟的身体状况较低，在较干燥的巢穴中，成年企鹅和雏鸟的血浆总蛋白含量较低。鉴于外寄生虫对宿主物种可能产生的不利影响，建议保护机构实施一项监测计划，以评估多个繁殖地人工巢穴中的外寄生虫感染情况。这些信息将有助于制定更全面的企鹅保护管理计划，从而可能防止对这种濒危企鹅物种造成进一步的不利影响。
